Knitting



R. E. DAVIS Jan. 13, 1942.

KNITTING Filed Dec. 22 1939 2 Shcets-$heet l v INVENTOR Robert E. Davis,

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1942 KNITTING Robert E. Davis, Fort Payne, Ala., assignor to W. B. Davis 8; Son, Inc., Fort Payne, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Application December 22, 1939, SerialNo. 310,517

7 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting and more of the cylinder preferably being lowered slightly particularly to a method of incorporating in the to permit the end to be thrown to the outside of fabric during knitting the end or ends of yarn the cylinder without interference. The yarn end, which result at the beginning or ending of knitor ends, are carried around by the cylinderand ting of a yarn, and to apparatus for carrying out are engaged by the needles as they move through the method. the next knitting wave and knitted into the fabric In machine knitting, the yarn customarily is by the movement of the needles. I fed to the needles from a feeding device, such as In certain cases, it may be desirable, after the a feed finger, and upon completion of the knitends have been moved to the outside of the cylting of that yarn, the yarn is carried into a 10 inder, to urge the yarn ends inwardly against hinder or clamp and is severed by a shear action the outer needles to insure that the ends will be adjacent the binder. The length of yarn which caught by the needles, but ordinarily, it will be spans th distance between the last needle on found that this is not necessary as the ends will which the yarn was knitted and the shear ac, be drawn into the path of the needles without as-- tion ordinarily is not incorporated in the fabric 1 sistance. l but extends as a loose end. Also, when a yarn The invention also provides novel apparatus change is effected, or at other times when knitfor carrying out the method and in one illustrating of a yarn is started, the length of yarn which tive form the apparatus includes a knitting maextends from the binder to the first needle on chine having associated therewith means,such as which it is knitted ordinarily is not incorporated 2 an air jet, suitably directed to force the yarn end into the fabric, but extends as a loose end. or ends to the outside of the cylinder at a point These loose ends above referred to are unsightly, removed from the mouthpiece. Suitable means, and in certain instances, as in the case of hosiery, such as a cam, preferably are provided for lowerconstitute, in addition, an annoyance to the ing the needles at this point in their travel to wearer of the knitted article. permit the yarn ends to be thrown to the outside These loose ends resulting at the start and of the cylinder. finish of the knitting of a yarn have heretofore An object of the present invention is the proeither been allowed to remain on the inside of vision of a knitted fabric wherein no loose ends the fabric, or have been trimmed by a manual of yam'protrude from the fabric but all yam operation which substantially increases the cost ends are incorporated in the fabric during the of making the knitted article. knitting thereof and no trimming is required.

In accordance with the present invention, the Another object of the invention is the provision loose ends occurring at the beginning or ending of a method of knitting fabric or knitted articles of a run of yarn are incorporated into the fabric wherein the ends ofthe yarn or yarns are induring the knitting thereof, thus eliminating any corporated into the fabric during the knitting necessity for trimming. This'is effected by posioperation and a neat and attractive fabric or artioning the ends during the knitting operation in ticle is provided. such manner that they are caught by the needles Still another object of the invention is the and knitted into the fabric. provision of a novel machine for incorporating The invention is disclosed herein, for the pur-' 40 the yarn ends during the knitting operation and poses of illustration, in connection with one illuswhile the fabric is still on the needles, thereby trative embodiment thereof, although it will be eliminating the necessity for trimming. understood that the invention is not thus limited Still another object of the invention is the proand is suitable for other applications. In order vision of a method of knitting fabric wherein to facilitate illustration of the invention, it is yarn changes are effected without producing loose described in connection with a circular, independent needle knitting machine, as for example, a machine of the Banner type.

The yarn end, which may either be the end occurring at the beginning of the knitting or the end occurring at the conclusion of the knitting, or both, is forced to the outside of the cylinder at a point removed from the feeding station or mouthpiece during the rotation of the needle cylinder, the needles at this point in the rotation ends in the finished fabric.

Various other features and advantages of the to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of one form of knitting machine constructed in accordance with the invention, certain of the parts being sectioned and others broken away in order to show certain of the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing somewhat diagrammatically the positions of yarns on which the machine is operating;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic development view of the needle cams of the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with 'its application to a knitting machine of the Bannertype. such as that disclosed in the patent to Hemphill No. 933,443, granted September 7,

1909.. Since the construction generally of such a machine is well known, the machine is shown 'whlchare not shown, may be of an usual construction.

The machine includes the usual bracket I (Fig. 3) supporting a table 2 on which is mounted a plate 3 serving as a bearing or guide for a needle cylinder I. The needle cylinder 4 is carried by a bevel gear 5 meshing with a driving gear 0, which latter is driven by a suitable driven mechanism (not shown) whereby the needle cylinder can be rotated or oscillated in accordance with the fabric or article desired. I g

The needle cylinder 4 carries the usual latch needles II which ride on a needle cam ll (Figs. 3 and 4) and are actuated to perform a knitting movement by a stitch cam it. An auxiliary cam i! (Fig. 4), including a cam member I I defining with the needle cam I 5 a cam track 19, is provided for the purpose of lowering or dipping the needles slightly throughout a short portion of their path of travel suitably removed from the mouthpiece of the knitting machine, for a purpose herelnafter more fully described.

The needle cylinder 4 carries at its outer end a top ring ll (Fig. 3), and the usual sinker ring I2 and cap ring 53 also are provided. The usual sinkers (not shown) are provided and are actuated in the usual manner.

A latch ring 20, which may be of any ordinary construction, is provided and carries a plurality of feed fingers, as for example, 2|, 22 and Il,'

adapted to feed yarns to the needles Hi. In the present example, for the purpose of illustration, two yarns are illustrated as being fed, namely, a yarn a, which is fed by feed finger 22, and 9. ya b which is fed by feed finger 2 i. 4

The latch ring carries a, binder amembly 25 including a binder plate 20, a spring guide 21, a yarn clamp 28, a yarn clamp 29,and a shear or cutter iii. The shear til is actuated by the usual mechanism (not shown), connected to a link 3i,

which in turn actuates the yarn clamp 28 through an arm 32.

Extending into the needle cylinder 4 is a. tube having its end or nozzle 31 terminating adjacent the path of the needles Iii and aimed outwardly of the needle cylinder 4. The tube 35 may be supported in a suitable manner and if desired,

may extend through the binder plate 26 and be secured therein in any suitable manner, as by a set screw 38, threaded into the binder plate 26 or into a short sleeve 36, secured to the binder plate 2|.

The operation of the machine above described is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the machine has been knitting the yarn a to form tubular fabric and it is desired to change yarns and substitute the yarn b for the yarn a. In the normal operation of the machine the non-knitted yarn b will extend from the feed finger 2| to the clamps 28 and 29 which hold the yarn when the feed finger fl s in nonfeeding position.

When the yarn change is to be made, the feed finger 2| is lowered into feeding position and the yarn b is positioned in the path of the needles, which engage and knit the yarn b, the length of yarn which extends from the feed finger II to the shear 30 and held by the yarn clamps 28 and 28 being pulled out of the clamps. This length or end bx trails behind the first needle on which this yarn is knitted.

Shortly after the feed finger 2| is lowered, the feed finger 22 is elevated to carry the yarn a out of the path of the needles and into the yarn clamps 2| and 29 and shear in, whereafter the shear is actuated to sever the yarn. The length of yarn a which extends from'the shear to the last knitted needle constitutes an end as: which trails behind the last needle on which this yarn is knitted. The position and condition of the machines and yarns at this point in the operation is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

- The ends bx and as: normally are carried around by the needle cylinder on the inside thereof and ordinarily would not be positioned to be knitted by the needles, and hence, when the fabric came off the machine, these ends would extend from the inner i'ace oi the fabric. However, in accordance with the present invention,

the ends bx and as: are forced to the outside of the cylinder and are caught by and knitted by the needles as they pass the knitting station.

Air under pressure is supplied to the tube 35 and is ejected at the end or nozzle 3! in a direction such that it blows the ends bat and as upwardly and outwardly from the cylinder through the space between the top of the cap ring I! and the bottom of the latch ring 20.

In order to facilitate passage of the yarn ends or and be out of the cylinder, the needles in preferably are lowered at this portion of their travel by the cam II. The needles preferably are lowered only to the level of the cap ring, and in any case, are not lowered suificiently to shed their stitches.

When the yarn end bx is forced to the exterior of the cylinder, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, and the needles are again raised to normal level, the yarn in: passes between two adjacent needles at or adjacent the first needle on which it was knitted and trails behind these needles. In an analogous manner, the yarn arc extends between two needles and trails behind the last knitting needle or a neighboring needle.

The yarn ends thus are carried around by the rotation of the needle cylinder to the mouthpiece or knitting station and, when the needles are carried through the knitting wave and engage and knit the yarn b, the yarn ends b1: and a: are drawn into position to also be engaged by the needles and to be knit thereby, along with the feed yarn b, the ends thus bein itted into the fabric.

In certain cases, it may be found desirable to force the yarn ends bx and a; in toward the needles as the needles approach the mouthpiece and in this event, an air jet (not shown) may be provided exteriorly of the cylinder and aimed in a direction to force the yarn ends in toward the needles. However, it has been found that this is usually not necessary as the movement of the needles will usually carry the yarn into engagement with th needles so that they are knitted by the needles at the knitting station.

Various modifications may be made-without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is capable of adaptation to machines of other types than th machine herein disclosed.-

For example, instead of employing an air jet for forcing the yarn ends to the exterior of the cylinder, I may employ suction means on the exterior of the cylinder adjacent a portion of the needle path removed from the knitting station. Thus suction means is so positioned and of such suction strength as to draw the yarn ends outwardly of the cylinder in a manner analogous to that in which the yarn ends are forced outwardly by the air jet above described. The needles may be lowered adjacent the suction means in a manner similar to that above described in order to facilitate passage of the yarn ends out of the cylinder. In another embodiment, there may be provided a brush wheel located adjacent or in the. path of 'the needles and rotated by the movement of the needles to urge the yarn ends out of the cylinder. In a like manner a brush wheel may be employed for urging the yarn ends against the needles as the latter approach the mouthpiece in order to insure that the ends will be caught and knitted by the needles.

The invention provides a fabric which to the casual observer does not differ in appearance from fabric formed in the usual manner and which fabric is fully as neat and attractive in appearance as fabric in which the yarn ends have been trimmed. It will be understood that the leading or beginning end of the yarn is knitted with that yarn in the second course and the trailing end of the first yarn is knitted alon with the second course of the second yarn and both are sumciently close to their principal courses and in most cases they are barely nticeable. In many fabrics, such as terry fabrics, for example, the yarn ends ar substantially concealed by the terry loops or other features of the fabric even to a greater extent than in plain non-terry or undecorated fabric.

The present invention has a wide use in knitting, as will be apparent to those skilled in the sit, and it is particularly advantageous in connection with the knitting of various fabrics and articles, wherein yarn changes are made for such purposes as providing horizontal stripes of different colors or horizontal sections of different materials or patterns. .The fabric or article when it leaves the needles has no loose ends extending therefrom, and hence, no trimming is necessary.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled'in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder having a series of needles, means for actuating said needles, means including feed fingers for feeding yarns to said needles, a central yarn clamp and shear devlce,.means actuating said feeding means to feed a first yarn to said needles, and thereafter feed a second yarn to said needles and discontinue the feeding of said first yarn, means actuating said clamp and shear to clamp and out said first yarn, and pneumatic means to move into the path of said needles the end of said first yarn extending. between the last needle on which knit and said clamp and shear device, and the end of said second yarn extending between the first needle on which knit and said clamp and shear device, whereby said ends are knit by said needles during the regular operation thereof.

2. In a circular knitting machine of the .type having a movable needle cylinder, and at least one knitting station, in combination, means for knitting a plurality of yarns successively, means for making a yarn change from a-first to a second yarn, means for cutting the first yarn, and means for causing the ends of said yarns to be knitted into the fabric, said last means including means for lowering the needles at a point removed from a knitting station, and means for throwing theends of the first and second yarns to the outside of said needle cylinder at the point where said needles are lowered.

3.. In a circular knitting machine. the combination with a movable needle cylinder having a series of needles, a knitting station, means for feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles selectively, of means for causing the ends of said yarns to be knitted into the fabric, said last means including means for lowering the needles as they pass a portion of their path removed from the knitting station, and means for moving cut ends of knitted yarn to the outside of the nezgle cylinder at said portion oi the needle pa 4. In a circular knitting machine of the type having a movable needlecylinder, and a knitting station, means for knitting a plurality of yarns successively, means for making a yarn change from a first to a second yarn, means inwardly of said needle cylinder for cutting the first yarn, and means including an air let for throwing the ends of the first and second yarns to the outside of said needle cylinder at a point removed from said knitting station, whereby said ends are knitted into the fabric.

5. In the method of knitting fabric on a plain circular knitting machine having a shear device inwardly of the needle cylinder, the steps which comprise knitting a first yarn to form one or more courses, effecting a yarn change from said first yarn to a second yarn, cutting the first yarn inwardly of the needle cylinder, moving the ends of the cut yarns to the outside of the needle cylinder and causing both the first and second yarn ends to knit into the fabric during the knitting of the second yarn in plating relation therewith.

6. In the method 0! operating a plain knitting machine having a yarn cutting device inwardly oi the needle cylinder, the steps which comprise knitting a yarn, cutting said yarn inwardly oi said needle cylinder, moving to the outside of said cylinder the end of said yarn which extends from the last needle on which it is knit, lowering the needles to provide space for said end to pass out of said cylinder before approaching the knitting point, and causing said end to be knit into the fabric.

'7. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a movable needle cylinder having a series of needles, a knitting station, means for feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles selectively, means for severing said yarns, means 101' lowering the needles as they pass a portion of their path removed from the knitting station, means for causing a current of air passing from the inside to the outside of said needle cylinder for throwing the free ends of said yarns into the path of said needles whereby said free ends are knitted into the fabric.

ROBERT E. DAVIS. 

